Frigia: A World in Ice

Frigia

Elan

The Elan are a mysterious race that primarily inhabits a single city in the southwest corner of Mabh called Elantis, although solitary Elan can sometimes be found exploring Frigia or performing some errand. Elan are a very powerful psionic race, and almost every member possesses at least some psionic power. Very little is known about their history, even to themselves; their “legends” state that the first of the Elan race woke deep in the earth, fully cognizant of mind and adult in form, and were told by their maker (also called Elan) to populate the outside world. For the last several hundred years, the Elan have been doing just that; the city of Elantis is one of the most advanced, beautiful cities in Frigia. Full of towers of crystal and ever frozen ice defended by impassable walls, the city is as mysterious and lovely as the Elan themselves.

Physical Description
The Elan are a tall, physically fit people that seem to have no particular genetic marker other than perfection. They are mostly tall, perfectly shaped, and possess symmetrical and striking features. There are Elan that possess dark skin, pale, and in between; their hair, when present runs every shade possible in nature. There is one thing in common amongst all Elan: they are literally brimming with energy, psionic energy. Their eyes seem to shine, their skin seems to sparkle, and their hair seems to be made of strands of color in the wind. They often bear tattoos on their bodies, usually in mystical, geometric patterns. The Elan are less inured to cold than other races, but much of their city is heated-when inside Elantis, they usually wear long, flowing robes of very light lavender and yellow made from low lying shrub-like plants native to the area. When in the elements they wear thick soft ermine and white seal pelts crafted into clothing much more form fitting and tailored than those of the mabden. Over these garments they usually wear heavier robes of more traditional fur, lined with sealskin.
Elan do not age and do not die of natural causes, and are not even born in the traditional sense. There are two types of Elan; those are the First Elan and the Created Elan. The first Elan are those that woke all those hundreds of years ago, yet have not aged a day. These Elan are the leaders of their race and are very, very rarely seen outside of their city. Although they possess working sexual organs, the Elan are a barren race and cannot multiply in the traditional sense. A time ago the Elan discovered a secret and mystical way of creating new life through a powerful and difficult psionic ritual known as The Awakening. Elan born this way, called the Created, begin life just as the First Elan, as adults with an existing repertoire of knowledge. There is little difference between the two types of Elan, other than the tattoos that cover the bodies of the Created. The First Elan do not possess these tattoos.

Personality and Society
The Elan are a group of intellectuals. They are an inward facing race often lost in the contemplation of the self and the vast expanse of the mind. They perform amazing feats of psionics and possess the most advanced society in all of Frigia, but they are isolationists and share little of their advancements with others. It is rumored that the crystals used in building their homes, implements and even weapons are grown, not crafted in the traditional sense. Furthermore, it is also rumored that Elan do not eat, and in truth due to their psionic abilities they do not need much in the way of nourishment.
The Elan are traditionally a peaceful people, but are easily roused into a cold fury when threatened. The city of Elantis possesses an elite group of psychic warriors that protect the city from all threats and they are well known for being merciless.
Although isolationists, the most important thing to the Elan is intellectual illumination. They accept students from all walks of life that exhibit psionic talent, and near the outer wall of their city they have built a tower expressly for the teaching of the psionic arts. Mabden fortunate enough to have trained there have come back strangely tight lipped about their experiences, however.
Individual Elan are more than often serious and taciturn yet calm and contemplative. They bear little ill will towards most species but consider themselves superior to the best of them. Elan will not step foot anywhere near the ancient ruins dotting the landscape of Mabh, however; the entire subject is taboo and is not spoken of.

Elan Racial Traits+2 to one ability score, +2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma: Elan gain a +2 bonus to one ability score chosen at creation to represent their varied nature; they also receive a +2 to Wisdom due to their tendency to be contemplative and inwards facing. However they also receive a -2 penalty to Charisma; although beautiful in form, the Elan are a cold and unemotional race that has difficulty relating to others.Aberrant Blood: The Elan are of the humanoid (aberrant) subtype.Medium: The Elan are medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.Naturally Psionic: An Elan gains the Wild Talent feat as a bonus feat at 1st level. If an Elan takes levels in a psionic class, she instead gains the Psionic Talent feat.Resistance: An Elan can use psionic energy to increase her resistance to various forms of attack. As an immediate action, an Elan can spend 1 power point to gain a +4 racial bonus on saving throws until the beginning of her next turn.Resilience: When an Elan takes damage, he can spend power points to reduce its severity. As an immediate action, he can reduce the damage he is about to take by 2 hit points for every power point he spends.Repletion: An Elan can sustain his body without need of food or water. If he spends 1 power point, and Elan does not need to eat or drink for 24 hours.Psionic Aptitude: When an Elan takes a level in a favored class, he can choose to gain an additional power point instead of a hit point or skill point.